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0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY MIDDLE EAST - PEACE PROCESS - 4th anniversary of assassination of Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin marked by negotiators meeting in Norway to re-energise peace process over which Mr Rabin was killed. Israel and Palestinians set February deadline for concluding framework for final status accord they intend to sign in September. (CNN) AUSTRALIA - REPUBLIC - latest opinion polls shows 49-47% split in favour of republic. Campaign focusing on country's sense of identity. (ABC)
0620 RURAL NEWS AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY has gained rather than diminished in strength since illegible of subsidies in mid 1980s, according to study done by Meat and Wool illegible Economic Service director Rob Davison. He says e.g. lambs born now are leaner and heavier than their predecessors, reflecting general change in emphasis from quantity to quality and profitability. (Diana Leufkens) SCRAPIE - NZ formally recognises South Africa as being free of infectious sheep and goat disease following MAP assessment. MAF's national security manager Stuart MacDiarmid says significance is more to do with allowing imports of sheep and goats to continue from Australia. (Kevin Ikin) WRIGHTSON - GUINNESS PEAT GROUP looking to continue to buy shares. GPG's local exec director Tony Gibbs says Wrightsons crying out for cornerstone shareholder. Market watchers say GPG may look at reconstructing Wrightson as it did Turners and Growers and turning it into profitable concern. (Gyles Beckford) MADONNA'S CARPET - pop star Madonna buys $30,000 of NZ wool carpet for her daughter's nursery. (Trudi Sheridan)
0625 SPORTS STORY MELBOURNE CUP - strong NZ presence in today's race, but which horse is the favourite? I/v with ABC sports reporter Dwayne Russell. (Tama Muru)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER illegible NEWS STORY EMPLOYMENT SKILLS - survey commissioned by Manufacturers' Assn shows many are concerned about skill levels of workers. Survey of 270 manufacturers in lower North Island had 92 responses and found more than 60% of those having difficulty finding both skilled and unskilled workers. Comment from Manufacturers and Employers Assn spokesperson Mike Erwin, Jim Donovan, managing director of DELTEC, and PPTA president Graham Macann. (Chris Holme) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA MāORI TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS TRANSALTA - HUTT MANA ENERGY TRUST rejects takeover offer by Canadian parent. Trust owns just over 14% of Transalta and has consistently seen itself as long term investor. Chair Christ Kirk-Burnand comments. (Paul Diamond) WRIGHTSON - GUINNESS PEAT GROUP will be back in sharemarket today, buying shares in rural services firm. It owns 17.1% now and is leaving itself option of going to 30%. (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW INSURANCE CLAIMS - locally-owned fire and general insurer AMI says increase in claim costs behind drop in profit for year to June. Chief exec John Balmforth says decision to retain broad network of branches, agencies and call centres gives AMI an edge. (Paul Diamond) AUSTRALIA - INTEREST RATES - Reserve Bank of Australia meets today amid expectations it will increase official interest rates for first time in 2 years. Economist Stephen Howell-Marrick says rise of quarter of 1% expected to be announced but there's wide range of opinion on how far central bank will go next year. (Gyles Beckford) Y2K - VISA currently on roadshow explaining to financial institutions and merchants how it's prepared for what may or may not happen re millennium bug. Head of regional member services for Asia-Pacific, Greg Storey, stops short of saying what potential nightmares might be. (Helen Matterson) FLETCHER CHALLENGE - now up to Canadian shareholders of Fletcher Challenge Paper to decide on future of plan to merge with subsidiary Fletcher Challenge Canada. 99% of Fletcher Challenge Paper shareholders voted in favour of plan at special meeting in AK. (Paul Diamond) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS ELECTION - TAX RATES shaping up as a defining issue. National and ACT use illegible leaders' debate to continue push for lower taxes. PM Jenny Shipley says she's certain her party will be able to guarantee cut in company tax rate tp 30 cents in dollar in next 3 years, while ACT leader Richard Prebble insists flat rate of 20 cents is vital. Labour's Helen Clark and Alliance leader Jim Anderton reject any move to lower taxes, says there needs to be more focus on assistance for exporters and small businesses, while NZ First leader Winston Peters says he'll block any moves to either drop or increases current tax rates. Live i/v with Political editor Al Morrison. MIDDLE EAST - PEACE PROCESS - summit in Oslo, aimed at mapping out path to final peace deal between Israel and Palestinians. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat delivers strong message to Israelis, President Clinton believes process can be moved forward if both parties agree on timetable and procedures. Correspondent Richard Lister says summit has informal air, with no fixed agenda- i/ved. (Mng Rpt) PLANE CRASH - EGYPT AIR - US Coastguard gives up search for survivors. Live i/v with correspondent Robin Brandt. RUGBY - DEFEAT FALLOUT - some NZRFU contracts about to end and players already reportedly considering lucrative offers to play overseas or switch to rugby illegible. Calls for some players and coach to be dropped. Live i/v with new illegible chief exec David Rutherford.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS TRAFFIC REPORT FINANCE UPDATE HASTINGS MURDER - police piecing together murder scene at Hastings Splash Planet swimming pool complex, where security guard found dead yesterday. Live i/v with inquiry head Det Insp Godfrey Watson. UNDER AGE DRINKING - stiffer penalties being introduced December 1, police hold they'll help to avoid tragedies such as recent death of 4 teenagers in Wairarapa car crash. Reporter Catherine Harris talks to liquor shop operators in teens' home town of Carterton and to police about how they hope to enforce the new laws. CHECHNYA - REFUGEES - Russian authorities briefly re-open corridor into Ingushetia for thousands of Chechen refugees trapped by fierce military offensive Russia has launched against Chechen rebels. I/v with Moscow correspondent David McGuffin. (Mng Rpt) MELBOURNE CUP - field of 24 horses lines up at Flemington today, chasing total prize pool of more than $Aust3 million. Reporter Tama Muru looks at the build-up to the race.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER ELECTION - TAX RATES - personal and company tax rates emerge as a key election issue, following televised leaders' debate. Live i/v with Employers' Fedn chief exec Steve Marshall, new CTU president Ross Wilson, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers tax partner John Shewan. ELECTION - MINOR PARTIES - now fewer than 5 parties have only MP at present and election is shaping up as survival test. Comment from Katie Julian of McGillicuddy Serious, United's Peter Dunne, Green's Rod Donald, and Ray Miller, AK Univ political scientist. (Stephen Harris) AUCKLAND - BRITOMART CENTRE - proposed scheme looks like dying today. AK City Council meets later today for deciding vote on project which involves underground transport centre and 11 high rise buildings. Live i/v with reporter Todd Niall. TRAFFIC REPORT INDIA - CYCLONE - India begins to mobiise relief operations, 4 days after cyclone devastates eastern coast. Worst affected areas of Orissa state remain almost entirely cut off from rest of country, air drops only recourse for relief workers. Unofficial reports put number of dead at more than 3,000. I/v with correspondent Ranjan Gupta. (Mng Rpt) illegible NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS illegible CUP - 13 horses in today's race have NZ connections, with quarter of 24-horse field offspring of sire Zabeel, himself sired by Sir Tristram. Live i/v with Patrick Hogan, who trained and owned Sir Tristram about today's likely good goers. EAST TIMOR - INDONESIANS WITHDRAW - last troops leave, but NZ officer in charge of security in Dili, Brig Martyn Dunne, says it was necessary to issue Indonesian military with ultimatum to leave. Brig Dunne i/ved. (Mng Rpt) UNIVERSITY FEES - NZUSA fears more across-board fee rises. AK Univ's proposed budget for 2000 recommends 10% increase, bringing cost of some degrees up to almost $10,000. Comment from NZUSA president Karen Skinner, medical students spokesperson Yedzi Mistry, Massey Univ vice-chancellor James McWha. (Mary-Jane Aggett) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS LAKE ALICE psychiatric hospital near Wanganui officially mothballed, with last of patients transferred to Wanganui and Auckland. Some former patients taking legal action over treatment received there more than 20 years ago. (Mark Torley) FRANCE - RUGBY WIN over All Blacks hailed by French media as "match of the illegible". I/v with correspondent Jim Bitterman. (also talks about beef row with illegible)